The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

- appointed Fr. Stefan Oster, S.D.B.,
as bishop of Passau (area 5,442, population 546,430, Catholics
486,195, priests 383, permanent deacons 38, religious 772), Germany.
The bishop-elect was born in 1965 in Amberg Germany, gave his
perpetual vows in 1999, and was ordained a priest in 2001. He
obtained a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Augsburg in
2003 has served in a number of academic roles, including professor of
philosophy in the University of Augsburg faculty of theology,
professor of philosophy at the Salesian High School in
Benediktbeuern, and ordinary professor of dogmatics and history of
dogma at the Salesian High School in Benediktbeuern. He is a member
of the Commission for Vocations of the German Bishops' Conference.

- appointed Rev. Pierre-Yves Michel as
bishop of Valence (area 6,522, population 492,508, Catholics 287,000,
priests 175, permanent deacons 33, religious 347), France. The
bishop-elect was born in 1960 in Roanne, France and was ordained a
priest in 1991. He holds a “Maitrise” in theology from the
university seminary of Lyon and a diploma from the faculty of
theology of the Institut Catholique, Paris. He has served in a number
of pastoral roles in the archdiocese of Lyon, including vicar of the
parish “Saint-Joseph des Brotteaux”; chaplain of the
Vendome-Bellcombe College; episcopal delegate for catechesis and for
youth pastoral; episcopal vicar for catechesis and the catechumenate;
secretary of the episcopal council; priest of the “Saint-Priest”
parish and member of the college of consultors and the presbyteral
council. He is currently vicar general and moderator of the curia.